JP3201264B2 - Multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus and transmitting / receiving method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus and a transmitting / receiving method,
The present invention relates to a multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus for controlling a receiving channel in satellite broadcasting and satellite communication, and a transmitting / receiving method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-channel broadcast transmitting device and a multi-channel broadcast transmitting device constitute a multi-channel broadcast system. The reception channel control device of this configuration is constructed as a control device that controls a reception channel for broadcasting and communication using satellites and terrestrial waves. In this type of reception channel control device, the reception device determines the reception state and automatically selects a reception channel.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-16819, when a scrambled transmission radio wave is received, channel selection of that channel is skipped and the channel is shifted up by one from the current channel position. The channel of (or one below) is selected.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-63665, when it is necessary to switch the channel on which broadcasting is being performed, the transmitting side changes the receiving channel on the receiving side from the transmitting side in accordance with the channel switching timing. Information to be controlled (selected) is multiplexed, and the selected channel on the receiving side is automatically switched.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. The first problem is
It takes time to select a fixed reception channel. The reason for this is to sequentially select a channel while determining the reception state of the channel one (or one below) from the currently received channel.

[0006] The second problem is that it is necessary to input all the information of the receiving channel to the receiving apparatus by itself. The reason is,
This is because it is necessary for the receiver to determine whether or not scrambling has been performed on the channel on which the broadcast is to be performed, and to input all the information of the reception channel to the receiving apparatus.

A third problem is that when information for controlling the receiving channel on the receiving side is multiplexed from the transmitting side and the receiving side selects the channel, the receiving apparatus may not be able to receive the desired channel on the transmitting side. The reason is that if the receiving device does not receive the channel on which the information for controlling the receiving channel is multiplexed at the timing when the broadcast wave switches, the receiving device cannot receive the desired channel on the transmitting side. This is because it can occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus and a transmitting / receiving method that control a receiving channel on a transmitting side and enable quick setting of a receiving channel on a receiving side. I do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object,
Therefore, the multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention uses a plurality of channels to transmit information for controlling the receiving channel on the receiving side on the transmitting side together with program data composed of video signals and audio signals. A multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a signal and outputs a video signal and an audio signal from the transmission signal, and a related information extraction unit that extracts scramble-related information from frame data of the transmission signal, and from the extracted related information. A descrambling determining unit for determining whether or not descrambling of a transmission signal is possible, a channel control information extracting unit for extracting channel control information from frame data of the transmission signal, and a reception state determining unit for determining whether there are broadcast waves of a plurality of channels A mother channel setting unit for setting a specific mother channel, and a storage unit for storing the mother channel. A channel switching unit for switching a reception channel in response to a determination result of the descrambling determination unit and the reception state determination unit, wherein the channel switching unit stores the storage unit when descrambling is disabled or when there is no broadcast wave corresponding to the reception channel. It is characterized in that a mother channel is read out and a receiving channel is automatically selected.

In the method of transmitting and receiving a multi-channel broadcast according to the present invention, a plurality of channels are used to transmit information for controlling a receiving channel on a receiving side on a transmitting side together with program data constituted by a video signal and an audio signal. This is a transmission / reception method for multi-channel broadcasting.

[0011] The configuration of the method includes a scramble-related information generating step in which the transmitting side generates scramble-related information;
The method includes a channel control information generating step of generating channel control information for controlling channel reception, and a combining step of superimposing scramble-related information and channel control information on a transmission frame.

Further, the receiving side extracts a scramble-related information from frame data of the transmission signal, a descrambling determination step of determining whether or not the transmission signal can be descrambled from the extracted related information, A channel control information extraction step of extracting channel control information from the frame data, a reception state determination step of determining the presence or absence of broadcast waves of a plurality of channels, a mother channel setting step of setting a specific mother channel, and a mother channel. It has a storage step of storing, and a channel switching step of switching a reception channel in response to the determination results in the descrambling determination step and the reception state determination step.

The above configuration is characterized in that the setting of control information on the transmitting side allows the receiving side to automatically select a receiving channel depending on whether descrambling is possible or not.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 to 5, there is shown an embodiment of a multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus and a transmitting / receiving method according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a transmitting apparatus 20 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the receiving device 30 according to the present embodiment. The transmitting device 20 of the present embodiment includes an input device 1, a scramble-related information generating unit 2, a channel information generating unit 3, a combining unit 4, and a transmitter 5. The receiving device 30 includes a tuner unit 6, a reception state determination unit 7, a scramble-related information extraction unit 8, a descrambling determination unit 9,
It comprises a channel control information extraction unit 10, a storage unit 11, an input device 12, a control unit 13, and a descrambling unit 14.

In the transmitting apparatus 20 of the present embodiment connected in the state shown in FIG. 1, the input apparatus 1 receives information on a program to be created and data on contract information for each receiving apparatus. The scramble-related information generation unit 2 converts information for scrambling into frame data to be transmitted. Also, the input device 1 creates data for the receiving device 30 to select a receiving channel. The created data is converted into frame data in the channel control information generator 3.

The synthesizing unit 4 receives and multiplexes the framed video signal or audio signal or both signals, the signal output from the scramble-related information generating unit 2, and the output signal of the channel control information generating unit 3. As a transmission signal. The transmission signal is converted into a transmission radio wave by the transmitter 5.

In FIG. 2, the receiving apparatus 30 has a tuner 6 capable of receiving at least one of a terrestrial station, a BS station, and a CS station. The reception state determination unit 7 includes a tuner unit 6
The reception status is monitored, and if the reception disabled state (there is no transmission radio wave) has continued for a predetermined time or more, a reception disabled determination signal is output. Further, in the case of being in a receivable state, the channel control information extraction unit 10 extracts a channel control signal for switching the reception channel specified by the transmission side from the transmission frame.

If the channel control signal is not multiplexed in the transmission frame, the descrambling-related information extracting unit 8 is used to descramble the currently received signal.
Extracts information for descrambling (scramble-related information). The descrambling determination unit 9 decodes the data of the scramble-related information, and determines whether or not the reception device 30 can receive the data (whether or not the descrambling is canceled). If descrambling is possible, the descrambling unit 14
De-scrambles the transmission signal and outputs a video signal and an audio signal.

The input device 12 is a device for setting a channel for transmitting channel control information (hereinafter referred to as “mother channel”), and outputs a set value of the mother channel to the control section 13. The control unit 13 writes the set value of the mother channel in the storage unit 11. The control unit 13
Is a reception failure determination signal or a descrambling determination unit 9
When it is determined that descrambling is not possible, the storage unit 11
The set value of the mother channel is read out, the frequency of the mother channel is set in the tuner section 6, and the receiving channel is automatically switched. When a channel control signal is received from the channel control information extraction unit 10, the frequency included in the channel control signal is set in the tuner unit 6 and the reception channel is automatically switched.

Next, an operation example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram with respect to a time axis showing an operation example of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this operation example, the broadcast channel has a three-channel configuration, and channel 1 is a mother channel. In FIG. 3, the time slots indicated by double lines indicate the programs (1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 and 3-) appended to each channel.
2) indicates that the program is being broadcast.

In the case where there are three broadcast waves in the above example, the channel on which the transmission radio wave always exists is set as the mother channel, and the receiving device 30 sets the mother channel with the input device 12. Normally, the receiving device 30 is
At the time of FF, information of the reception channel and the like are written in the memory as the last mode, and when the power is turned on next time, the power is turned on with the power turned off last time. For this reason, if the power is turned off while the channel 2 is selected last time, the channel 2 is turned on at the next start-up when the power is turned on.
Is selected.

When the power is on, if there is no transmission radio wave on channel 2 and the channel to be received is unknown, the channel is switched until a channel to be received is found. At this time, by setting the mother channel, the reception state discrimination section 7 allows the tuner section 6
(S13), and if there is no radio wave that can be received for 3 seconds, the control unit 13 is notified and the control unit 13 reads the frequency of the mother channel from the storage unit 11 (S19). .

Further, the frequency is set in the tuner section 6 (S20), and the receiving channel is switched to channel 1 (mother channel). Next, after the reception channel is switched to channel 1, frame data is extracted from the reception wave (S14).

In the frame data, channel control information multiplexed on the transmission side is detected, and when the data is extracted (S15), the reception channel frequency included in the channel control information is further extracted (S16). The frequency is set to the tuner unit 6 from the control unit 13 (S20),
The receiving channel is switched to channel 3. If reception is possible and descrambling is possible on channel 3, the user continues to watch program 3-1 on channel 3.

Next, on channel 3, program 3-1
When the descrambling determination unit 9 determines that descrambling is not possible, the content changes to the program 3-2, and at the same time, the viewing permission condition changes. Then, the control unit 13 reads the frequency of the mother channel from the storage unit 11 (S19). Further, the frequency is set in the tuner unit 6 (S20),
The receiving channel is switched to channel 1 (mother channel).

Next, a modified example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This variation is partially different from the above-described embodiment in the configuration of the receiving device. That is, in the receiving device 40 of the present variation, the mother channel setting determining unit 15 is newly provided for the receiving device 30.

The mother channel setting determining section 15 determines whether the mother channel is valid or invalid. The validity / invalidity determination procedure is as follows.
This is performed by reading the mother channel set in the input device 12 and determining the contents.

In FIG. 5 showing the configuration of the receiving apparatus of this variation, the mother channel set by the input device 12 is
The mother channel setting determination unit 15 reads and determines the content. If the mother channel setting is invalid, the reception channel is switched even when there is no received radio wave or when descrambling is impossible. Not to be. This variation adds the effect of the above-described embodiment, prevents the receiving channel from being automatically switched, and allows the receiver to freely set the receiving channel.

According to the above-described embodiment, the receiving state of the currently selected receiving channel is determined, the channel is automatically selected to the channel set in the receiving device, and after the channel is selected, transmission is performed from the transmitting side. Channel control information
The receiving device is tuned to the desired receiving channel on the transmitting side. More specifically, the transmitting device multiplexes and transmits information for controlling the receiving channel of the receiving device.
The receiving device determines whether or not descrambling is possible, and determines whether or not a transmission wave exists.

In order to quickly and automatically select a channel specified by the transmitting side, the receiving apparatus determines the receiving state and controls the receiving channel by using the result. For this reason, the receiving apparatus can automatically select a specific channel in a state where descrambling is impossible or when there is no received wave. Further, by transmitting information for controlling the receiving channel of the receiving device from a specific channel on the transmitting side, it becomes possible to control the receiving channel of the receiving device on the transmitting side.

Although the above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, the multi-channel broadcast transmitting apparatus of the present invention generates scramble-related information, generates channel control information for controlling channel reception, and generates scramble-related information. In addition, channel control information is superimposed on the transmission frame. Therefore,
Using this information, the receiving side can automatically select a receiving channel depending on whether or not descrambling is possible.

The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention comprises:
The scramble-related information is extracted from the frame data of the transmission signal, it is determined whether or not the transmission signal can be descrambled from the extracted related information, and the channel control information is extracted from the frame data of the transmission signal. Further, the presence or absence of broadcast waves of a plurality of channels is determined, a specific mother channel is set, and the set mother channel is stored. Therefore,
Upon receiving the results of the descrambling determination and the reception state determination,
The receiving channel is switched, and when descrambling is impossible or when there is no broadcast wave corresponding to the receiving channel, the mother channel is read out, and the receiving channel can be automatically selected.

In the transmission / reception method of multi-channel broadcasting, the transmitting side generates scrambling-related information, generates channel control information for controlling channel reception, and superimposes the scrambling-related information and the channel control information on the transmission frame. Further, the receiving side extracts the scramble-related information from the frame data of the transmission signal, and determines whether or not descrambling of the transmission signal is possible from the extracted related information,
Channel control information is extracted from the frame data of the transmission signal, and the presence or absence of broadcast waves of a plurality of channels is determined. Then, a specific mother channel is set and stored, and the receiving channel is switched in response to the determination results in the descrambling determination and the reception state determination. According to these procedures, it becomes possible for the receiving side to automatically select a receiving channel depending on whether descrambling is possible or not, based on the setting of control information on the transmitting side.

Therefore, according to the above multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving apparatus and transmitting / receiving method, the use of the mother channel eliminates the need for the receiver to operate and search for a channel to be received. In addition, it is not necessary to continue watching programs that cannot be descrambled.
Furthermore, since the transmitting side transmits the channel control information,
The receiving side can control the setting of the receiving channel to be received from the transmitting side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-channel broadcast transmitting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an operation example by a transmitting device and a receiving device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example by a transmitting device and a receiving device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration block diagram illustrating a receiving device of a variation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 input device 2 scramble-related information generating unit 3 channel control information generating unit 4 combining unit 5 transmitter 6 tuner unit 7 reception state determining unit 8 scramble-related information extracting unit 9 descramble determining unit 10 channel control information extracting unit 11 storage unit 12 Input device 13 Control unit 14 Descramble unit 15 Mother channel setting determination unit 20 Transmitting device 30, 40 Receiving device

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transmission signal which transmits information for controlling a reception channel on a reception side on a transmission side using a plurality of channels together with data of a program constituted by a video signal and an audio signal. A multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus that outputs the video signal and the audio signal, wherein a related information extracting unit that extracts scramble related information from frame data of the transmission signal; and a descrambling of a transmission signal from the extracted related information. A descrambling determination unit for determining whether or not the transmission signal is available; a channel control information extraction unit for extracting channel control information from frame data of the transmission signal; a reception state determination unit for determining the presence or absence of broadcast waves of the plurality of channels; A mother channel setting unit for setting a mother channel; and a storage unit for storing the mother channel. A channel switching unit that switches a reception channel in response to the determination result of the descrambling determination unit and the reception state determination unit, wherein the channel switching is performed when descrambling is disabled or when there is no broadcast wave corresponding to the reception channel. A multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus, wherein a section reads a mother channel from the storage section and automatically selects a receiving channel. 2. A video signal using a plurality of channels.
A multi-channel broadcast transmitting / receiving method for transmitting information for controlling a receiving channel on a receiving side on a transmitting side together with data of a program constituted by an audio signal, wherein a transmitting side generates a scrambling related information generating step for generating scrambling related information, A channel control information generating step of generating channel control information for controlling reception of the channel; and a combining step of superimposing the scramble-related information and the channel control information on a transmission frame. Related information extracting step of extracting scramble related information from the frame data of the above, descrambling determining step of determining whether or not descrambling of the transmission signal is possible from the extracted related information, and channel control information from the frame data of the transmission signal. Channel control information extractor to extract A receiving state determining step of determining the presence or absence of broadcast waves of the plurality of channels, a mother channel setting step of setting a specific mother channel, a storing step of storing the mother channel, the descrambling determining step, and Receiving a result of the determination in the receiving state determining step, and switching a receiving channel. The setting of control information on the transmitting side enables the receiving side to automatically select a receiving channel based on whether descrambling is possible or not. A method for transmitting and receiving multi-channel broadcasts.